Programmable process and production control systems

ABSTRACT

A programmable process and production control center features a complete system of built-in selectable input and output interfaces, internal selectable electronic clocks, control subsystems, and a programmable read-only-memory card reader. In governing the operation of the control center, the control subsystem responds to a combination of input signals. As a selective read-only-memory, a specially formatted card in a card reader enables and determines response to a plurality of external, internal and time signals in order to determine the development of the combination of input signals. Included in the overall arrangement is a wide range of selection with respect to types of inputs and types of outputs as well as permitting choice between numerous different inter-coordinated responses.

United States Patent [19 1 Levin [11] 3,868,648 [451 Feb. 25, 1975 PROGRAMMABLE PROCESS AND [73] Assignee: Industrial Dynamics, Inc., Fort Collins, C010.

22 Filed: July 5,1973 21 Appl.No.:376,827'

[52] U.S. Cl. 340/l72.5, 235/151.1 [51] int. Cl. G06! 15/46 [58] Field of Search 340/172 S; 235/151.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,400,374 9/1968 Schumann 340/172 S 3,566,362 2/1971 Taylor 340/172 S 3,651,314 3/1972 Kosen 235/151.ll 3,686,639 8/1972 Fletcher 340/172 S 3,689,892 9/1972 Glenn 340/172 S 3,701,113 10/1972 Chace 340/172 S 3,719,931 3/1973 Schroeder 340/172 S 3,731,280 5/1973 Shevlin 340/172 S 3,753,243 8/1973 Ricketts 340/172 S 3,761,882 9/1973 Bartlett 340/172 S OTHER PUBLlCATlONS Bulletin, PMC 1750 Programmable Matrix Controller, Pub. SD23, Allen Bradley Corp., August 1972. Programming Information Bulletin 1750 PMC, Pub. SD26, Allen Bradley Corp., June 1972.

Comparison Circuit Expendable Comparison Circuit E/CS1 G. Lapidus, Programmable Logic Controllers- Painless Programming to Replace the Relay Bank, Control Engineering, April 1971, pp. 49-60.

N. Andreiev, Programmable Logic Controllers-An Update, Control Engineering, Sept. 1972, pp. 45-47. Program Sequence Controller, Pub. SM452KCC, Square D. Company, Nov. 1972.

Primary Examiner-Gareth D. Shaw Assistant Examiner-James D. Thomas Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hugh H. Drake [57] ABSTRACT I rality of external, internal and time signals in order to determine the development of the combination of input signals. Included in the overall arrangement is a wide range of selection with respect to types of inputs and types of outputs as well as permitting choice between numerous different inter-coordinated responses.

13 Claims, 25 DrawingFi'gures PATENTED 3' 868 648 SHEET 01 HF 18 Fig.

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PATENIEUFEB25|915 SHEET IBM 18 PROGRAMMABLE PROCESS AND PRODUCTION CONTROL SYSTEMS The present invention pertains to programmable process and production control systems. More particularly, it relates to programmable process control systems which exhibit capability of complex control function while yet exhibiting simplicity of set up and operation.

A typical process in which automatic control is desired is a flow-solder station for electronic printed circuits. It is desired to use an optimum amount of flux and to complete as many printed boards per minute as practically possible. However, the duration and amount of flux applied, and the proper rate of the conveyor, varieswith different types of printed boards. Without automatic control of some sort, optimum operation requires that a skilled individual be present to reset each of the station functions each time a new board is to be processed. Of course, that is an uneconomical approach.

Quite apparently, a general purpose computer may be programmed so as to respond to information indicating the kind of board under process at any given time and thereupon serve to control the station function as ordered by its programming. However, this approach requires the inclusion in the overall system of peripheral or interface equipment between the process stations and the computer. It also requires the services of a trained computer programmer in order to feed the computer with the necessary information in the proper language.

It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to provide a programmable process and production control center which overcomes the aforenoted disadvantages and deficiencies.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a controller which requires no external input- /output or interface equipment and no knowledge of computer programming in order to obtain satisfactory operation.

Another objectof the present invention is to provide a controller in which control functions may be changed merely by the insertion of an appropriately punched or otherwise marked program card.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a controller which features a wide range of flexibility and adaptability.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a controller that utilizes, as a programmable readonly-memory, an inexpensive tabulation card that is replaceable, reusable and economically disposable.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a controller with a memory that is totally accessed instead of being only address accessed.

In accordance with the invention, a programmable process and production control center includes means for developing an output signal in response to the occurrence of magnitude of one of time, number of events, and change of character together with means for governing the operation of the development means in response to a combination of input signals. Selectively fixed totally-and-simultaneously accessed passive self-decoding read-only memory means responds to a plurality of incoming signals for defining and determining the development of the combination of input signals. Various features include internal options of types of input and output signals, highly flexible selectible ex- FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the exterior of a programmable process and production control center; FIG. la is a separated isometric view of a card reader specifically implemented for use in the control center of FIG. 1;

FIG. lb is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the implemented form of card reader shown in FIGS. 1 and la;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a decoding platen incorporated into the card reader of the preceding figures;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the same control center;

FIG. 3 is a functional diagram of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a functional diagram of an enhanced embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is'a pictorial representation of a control card utilized in connection with the embodiments of the earlier figures; 1

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates the input control logic employed in the system of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of one version of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c are schematic diagrams of different input options included in connection with the embodiments of the previous figures;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of another portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of still another portion of the apparatus. shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a further portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d are schematic diagrams of various output options available in'connection with the apparatus of the preceding figures;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of yet another portion of the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a still further portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram .of a final portion of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 8.

In order more readily to understand and appreciate details which will follow, initial consideration will be directed to an external view of the apparatus, reference also being made to certain features of flexibility and to various kinds of input and output signals which desirably are to be received or produced. Thus, FIG. I depicts the front panel of a presently preferred version of the subject programmable control center. Included on the front panel are a card reader 20, a key-operated main-power switch 22 and a sub-panel 24 in which are mounted a plurality of push buttons 26 distributed in an 

1. A programmable process and production control center for operating a system which system yields process and production status signals, saiD control center being subject to the receipt of command signals from source means external to said control center, with said control center comprising: comparison means for developing an output signal in response to a first combination of input signals and to governing signals; means for producing said governing signals to govern the operation of said comparison means in response to a second combination of input signals; and selectively-fixed totally-and-simultaneously-accessed passive self-decoding read-only memory means responsive to a plurality of incoming signals for defining and determining the development of said first and second combinations of input signals, said incoming signals being a combination of those present of said status signals, of said command signals, of signals representing a time interval, of signals representing a number of events and of signals, including said governing signals and said output signal, representing said governing operation, said memory means including a medium in which is defined an array of signal path locations that define and represent a program and also including a reader for said medium to accept and translate array-defined ones of said incoming signals as input signals of said first combination to which said comparison means responds and to accept and translate arraydefined ones of said incoming signals as inputs signals of said second combination to which said producing means responds with said second combination of input signals including signals representing the magnitude of at least one of said time interval and said number of events, the program defined and represented by said array determining which of said incoming signals are translated as input signals and also determining at least in part which of said incoming signals are included in each of said first and second combinations of input signals, and said read-only-memory means exhibiting a self-contained capability of responding directly to all possible combinations of said incoming signals in definition and determination of said development.
 2. A control center as defined in claim 1 which further includes means for receiving direct external control signals and means responsive through said memory to said direct external control signals for presenting said external control signals as additional output signals exclusive of operation thereon by said comparison means and said producing means.
 3. A control center as defined in claim 1 which further includes both a normal power supply and an auxiliary power supply and which still further includes means responsive to failure of said normal power supply for enabling operation of said auxiliary power supply automatically for a fail-safe time period.
 4. A control center as defined in claim 1 in which said producing means includes a master clock together with means responsive thereto for developing a plurality of respectively different clock increment signals, and in which said clock increment signals are selectively supplied to said producing means by said memory means as input signals in said second combination.
 5. A control center as defined in claim 1 which includes means for feeding said output signal to said memory means as an additional incoming signal.
 6. A control center as defined in claim 1 which includes a plurality of said comparison means each responsive, in response to selective definition and determination by said memory means, to a first combination of input signals and to governing signals for developing an output signal.
 7. A control center as defined in claim 1 which further includes a plurality of individually different input-option circuits each uniquely responsive to a particular and respective different kind of status signal for developing an incoming signal.
 8. A control center as defined in claim 1 which further includes a plurality of individually different output-option circuits each selectively chosen by said memory means and each uniquely responsivE to output signals for developing a particular and respective different type of externally-available outgoing signal.
 9. A control center as defined in claim 1 which includes a plurality of said producing means each individually responsive under definition and determination by said memory means, to respective array-defined second combinations of said input signals for developing respective corresponding different governing signals.
 10. A control center as defined in claim 9 in which successive different ones of said producing means individually respond, under definition and determination by said memory means, to an output signal produced by a comparison means associated with a preceding one of said producing means.
 11. A control center as defined in claim 1 in which said medium is a planar card of insulating material and said array is a pattern, in rows and columns, of positions at each individual one of which positions a respective aperture in said card may be formed as selectively chosen by the user.
 12. A programmable process and production control center for operating a system which system yields process and production status signals, said control center being subject to the receipt of command signals from source means external to said control center, with said control center comprising, in a unitary combination: means for providing a plurality of individually different ones of said status and command signals; means, including a plurality of individually different input-option circuits each uniquely responsive to a particular kind of said status and command signals, for developing a plurality of respectively different initiating signals; means, including an input control and counter system, responsive to combinations of said different initiating signals for developing correspondingly different control signals; governing means, including a comparison circuit, responsive to combinations of said different initiating signals and said control signals for developing correspondingly different process-governing signals; means, including a plurality of individually different output-option circuits each uniquely responsive to said process-governing signals, for developing a plurality of respectively different particular types of output signals; and means, including a self-contained selectively-fixed totally-and-simultaneously-accessed passive self-decoding read-only memory, responsive directly to combinations of incoming signals for defining and determining the development of combinations of input signals including said combinations of signals and which ones of said input-option and output-option circuits are connected, said combinations of incoming signals being combinations of those present of said initiating signals, said control signals, said process-governing signals and said output signals, said combinations of input signals being combinations of those present of said initiating signals, said control signals, said process-governing signals and said output signals, said memory including a medium in which is defined an array of signal path locations that define and represent a program and also including a reader for said medium to accept and translate array-defined ones of said incoming signals as input signals of said combinations of said input signals with said combinations of signals to which said governing means responds including signals representing the magnitude of at least one of a time interval and a number of events, the program defined and represented by said array determining which of said incoming signals are translated as input signals and also determining at least in part which of said incoming signals are included in each of said combinations of input signals as well as selecting the particular signals in each of the respective combinations to which said developing means and said governing means respond while simultaneously connecting said ones of said input-option and output-option Circuits.
 13. A programmable process and production control center for operating a system which system yields process and production status signals, said control center being subject to the receipt of command signals from source means external to said control center, with said control center comprising, in a unitary combination: means for providing a plurality of individually different ones of said status and command signals; first option means responsive to a particular kind of said status and comman signals for developing a plurality of respectively different initiating signals; means, including an input control and counter system, responsive to combinations of said different initiating signals for developing correspondingly different control signals; governing means, including a comparison circuit, responsive to combinations of said different initiating signals and said control signals for developing correspondingly different process-governing signals; second option means responsive to said process-governing signals for developing a particular type of output signal; and means, including a self-contained selectively-fixed totally-and-simultaneously-accessed passive self-decoding read-only memory, responsive directly to combinations of incoming signals for defining and determining the development of combinations of input signals including said combinations of signals, said combinations of incoming signals being combinations of those present of said initiating signals, said control signals, said process-governing signals and said output signals, said combinations of input signals being combinations of those present of said initiating signals, said control signals, said process-governing signals and said output signals, said memory including a medium in which is defined an array of signal path locations that define and represent a program and also including a reader for said medium to accept and translate array-defined ones of said incoming signals as input signals in said combinations of input signals with said combination of signals to which said governing means responds including signals representing the magnitude of at least one of a time interval and a number of events, the program defined and represented by said array determining which of said incoming signals are translated as input signals and also determining at least in part which of said incoming signals are included in each of said combinations of input signals as well as selecting which of said signals are included respectively in said combinations of said different initiating signals. 